Jitendra Singh Tomar, a lawyer with Congress background, is Delhi's new home minister and also has the charge of law and justice ministry which saw a controversial stint of Somnath Bharti during previous AAP government.

New Delhi: Jitendra Singh Tomar, a lawyer with Congress background, is Delhi's new home minister and also has the charge of law and justice ministry which saw a controversial stint of Somnath Bharti during previous AAP government.

Tomar has been given charge of crucial Home department, which was earlier handled by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal himself. He has also been given the charge of tourism, art and culture.

48-year-old Tomar joined the AAP in 2013. Before that he was associated with Congress though he never fought an election. He holds an LLB degree from Tilakmanjhi Bhagalpur University, Bihar.

Like his predecessor Bharti, who sparked a row by allegedly leading a midnight raid against some African women in Khirki Extension in South Delhi when he was the law minister, Tomar has also courted controversy.

The Delhi High Court on February 6 issued a notice to him over allegations that he enrolled as an advocate on a "false and bogus" degree, charges which he has denied.

He contested from Tri Nagar in last assembly polls, but lost by a narrow margin. However, the party renominated him this time and he trounced BJP's Nand Kishore Garg by 22,311 votes.

Tomar has been stated to have been "inspired" by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal's resolve to work for the marginalised.

Providing cheap water and electricity and improving sanitation are among top priorities for his constituency.